Starting device for mercury-vapor electric apparatus.



P. G. HEWITT.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MERCURY VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1905.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rarer. coornn HEWITT, or NEW YORK, NL Y., assmuon, BY MESNEassrcnmnu'rs,

TO coornn nnwrr'r ELECTRIC COMPANY, or HOZBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A conrona-TION OF NEW JERSEY.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MERCURY-VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Original application filed November 24, 1903, Serial No. 182,443.Divided and this application filed July- 1,

- i 1905. Serial No. 267,988.

general character, the same being designed for use in some instances forelectric lightv ing purposes and in other instances for obtaininguni-directional currents from alternating currents. In some forms ofthis apparatus, one or more of theelectrodes consists ofa smallquantity-of mercury, and the inclosed gas or vapor consists of vaporizedor volatilized mercury. Generally speaking, a convenient way for'causingan initial flow of current through the apparatus has been to impress ahigher electrical potential than is required to maintain the devices ina conductive condition when once started.

I have devised various means for conveniently securing the initialcurrent flow, and my present invention aims to provide a new solution ofthe same problem. In this instance, I provide'simple and effective meansfor forming an initial closed circuit between two electrodes ofdifferent potential in the apparatus, whereby a flow of current havingthe normal operating potential is readily established through the closedcircuit, and upon the interruption of this circuit the current flowsthrough the gas or vapor. In one form of starting device made in,accordance with the present invention, I cause a thin stream of mercuryto be ejected from one electrode into contact with the other, and thenpermit the stream to-be disintegrated by gravity, whereby the conductingstream through which the initial current has been caused to flow isinterrupted and the current then traverses the current path between theelectrodes.

In another embodiment of my invention, the mercury is initiallyrestrained from falling in a stream to the lower electrode,

and the act of startingconsists in automatically. releasing therestrained mercury to allow a flow from the upper to the lower electrodefor starting purposes. The electromagnetic means for causing thesquirtmgof a portion of the lower mercury electrode upward into contactwith the other electrode are disclosed in the parent application.

Similar means may be employed for releasing the mercury in-the second:form of apparatus described above. But these means may be varied anditis also true that various other means-may be provided for causing aclosed circuit to be formed be-- tween the electrodes; one of which isillustrated and described in the present application. After theelectro-magnetic devices have done their work, they may be automaticallycut out of the circuit or may be left in the circuit, if desired;

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus embodying my inventionand Fig. 2 is a modification thereof.

Referring to the first figure of the drawing, 1 represents the inclosingchamber of the device, which is here represented as an electric lamp,although it will be understood that the invention is applicable toelectric converters or current rectifiers. The general method ofexhausting the lamp and other characteristics to be observed in themanufacture are described in certain patents issued to me September17th, 1901.

In the apparatus, the mercury electrode is located in a compartment 25near the top of the lamp and the iron electrode at the bottom. Thearmature 20 of the coil 10 is here connected with a valve stem joined toa to fall and that by virtue of the strip 23 of conducting material,there 'will be a continuous conducting path from one electrodeto theother, formed in part by the stream of mercur and in part by theconducting strip. Th1S provides for continuity between the mercuryelectrode 4 and the iron electrode 2 during the starting operatlon, eventhough, for any reason, a separation should take place between differentparts of the mercury in the-compartment 25.

Fig. 2 illustrates an organization in which the positive electrode 2, atthe top of the apparatus is connected by a good conductor 24 with a body"of mercury 1n the chamber 25. From this chamber leads a channel 22, asbefore, into the main container. When the mercury is spilt over from thechamber 25 down to the lower electrode 4, acomplete path between the twoelectrodes is formed partly by the stream of mercury and partly by theconductor 24.

In both organizations illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, current will passthrough the vapor between the two electrodes, as soon as the stream ofmercury falls apart by gravity. The organization shown in these figuresmay be provided with devices for cutting 'out the coil 10. As soon asthe stream of mercury ceases to flow or breaks apart, a current will beestablished between the negative electrode-4 and the main positiveelectrode 2.

In my application Serial Number 182,443, filed November-24. 1903, ofwhich this application is a division, claims are made upon certainmethods of operatlon disclosed herein; and in another division of thesame original application, filed October 19, 1904, Serial Number229,055, claims are made upon the construction shown in said originalapplication, reference being had in some of the claims moreparticularly'to a species not shown herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container,electrodes therein one of which is a conducting fluid, leading-in wireselectrically connected with said electrodes, a valve controlling theflow of the said fluid,

and means whereby the valve can be op-- erated for causing a stream ofthe fluid to pass between the electrodes.

2. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container,electrodes therein one of which is a conducting fluid, leading-in wiresconnected with'the said electrodes, a valve controlling the flow of thesaid fluid, and automatic means whereby the valve can be operated forcausing a stream of the fluid to pass between the'electrodes.

' 3. In a gas or 'vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container,"electrodes therein one of which is a conducting fluid, leading-in wireselectrically connected to the said electrodes,

a valve controlling the flow of the said fluid, and electro-umgncticmeans whereby the valve can be operated for causing a stream of mercuryto pass between the electrodes.

4. In a. gas or vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container,electrodes therein one of which is of mercury, leadin -in wireselectrically connected with said electrodes, a valve controlling theflow of said mercury, and means whereby the valve can be operated forcausing a stream of mercury to pass between the electrodes.

5. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a container having twoelectrodes one being of conducting liquid located above the other in asuitable pocket or receptacle, the said pocket or receptacle beingprovided with an opening for ermitting an outflow of conducting liquidtherefrom to the lower electrode, a piston adapted to approximatelyclose the said opening, and means for operating the piston.

6. In a gas or-vapor electric apparatus, a container, two electrodes onebeing a conduncting liquid located above the other in a suitable pocketor receptacle, the said pocket or receptacle being provided with anopening permitting an outflow of liquid therefrom, a piston adapted toapproximately close the said opening, and electro-magnetic means foroperating the system.

7. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container,electrodes therein, one of which is a conducting liquid movablerelatively to the container for preventing contact between theelectrodes in the non-open ating conditionof the apparatus, and meansfor removing the obstructing or preventing means and-causing contactbetween the electrodes.

8. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container fixed inposition, electrodes therein one of which is a conducting fluidcontained in a suitable pocket or receptacle, and means for releasing aortion of the liquid for making contact with the other electrode andthereby starting the ap paratus.

9. In combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising acontainer, normally seperated electrodes therein, suitable circuitsconnected with the apparatus, of restraining devices controlling thepassage from one electrode to the other, and means whereby on theclosure of the main circuit said restraining devices are withdrawn fromoperation, whereby the appas last named electrode, and means whereby onthe closure of the main circuits to the apparatus contact is madebetween the electrodes, such means consisting of an electro-magnetadapted to act upon the aforesaid restraining devices.

11. In a vapor electric apparatus, a suitable container, main electrodestherein normally disconnected within the container, and electro-magneticmeans controlling a fall of conducting material from one electrode tothe other through a path too extended to permit of such connection beingpermanent when the apparatus is at rest.

12. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus a suitable container fixed inposition, electrodes therein normally disconnected within the container,and electro-ma etic means controlling a fall of conductmg material fromsuch electrode to another through a path too extended to permit of suchconnection being permanent when the apparatus is at rest.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York,this 25 29th day of June A. D. 1905.

PETER COOPER HEWITT. Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, Gnonon H. STOCKBRIDGE.

